Markowich



Jan. 3l, v 1956 A. MARKOWICH GRAIN DRYER Filed May 27, 1955 miss: EL 2United States Patent() GRAIN DRYER Andrew Markowich, Clairmont, Alberta,Canada Application May 27, 1953, Serial No. 357,857 1 Claim. (Cl.34-174) My invention relates to new and useful improvements in graindrying devices, an object of my invention being to provide a device ofthe character herewithin described whereby grain can be passed throughthe device continuously and dried during its passage therethrough.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the characterherewithin described whereby the speed of grain passing through thedevice can be controlled accurately thereby enabling the amount ofmoisture being removed from the grain, to be controlled.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a device of thecharacter herewithin described wherein the warm air used in dryingpasses to the centre of the device and then outwardly through the grainmass to be collected in an exhaust manifold, both the exhaust manifoldand the intake being provided with separate air moving devices therebyensuring continuous ilow of air through the machine.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide a device of thecharacter herewithin described which has been designed specifically forfarm use and is extremely simple in construction, economical inoperation, and otherwise Well suited to the purpose for which it isdesigned.

With the foregoing objects in view, and such other objects andadvantages as will become apparent to those skilled in the art to whichthis invention relates as this speciiication proceeds, my inventionconsists essentially in the arrangement and construction of parts all ashereinafter more particularly described, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a side sectional elevation of my device.

Figure 2 is a horizontal section of my device substantially along thelines 2 2 of Figure l.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate correspondingparts in the diiferent figures.

Due to the relatively high cost of conventional commercial grain dryingapparatus, it is normally not possible for the average farmer to possessequipment for the drying of grain. Consequently I have designed a graindryer of high efliciency yet relatively low cost and which furthermoreoperates extremely economically. This dryer, hereinafter to bedescribed, is particularly suitable for individual farmers as well asfor elevator operators and the like.

Proceeding now to describe my invention in detail, it will be seen fromthe accompanying drawings that I have provided a substantiallyrectangular outer casing 1 supported upon a platform 2. This outercasing is provided with a conical roof 3 through the apex of whichextends a grain intake conduit 4.

Situated within the outer casing 1 is a rectangular inner casing 5 andit will be seen from a perusal of Figure 2 that this inner casingcomprises a pair of end walls 6 parallel with the end walls 7 of theouter casing, and a front wall 8 parallel with and spaced from the frontwall 9 of the outer casing. In other words, the rear wall 10 of theouter casing is common to both casings. It will also be observed thatthe end walls 6 are perforated as at 11 and ICC that they extend fromthe platform 2 to the roof 3 of the outer casing being joined thereto asindicated at 12.

Within this inner casing I have provided a pair of vertical partitions13 also perforated as at 14 and situated parallel to the end walls 6 andextending between the rear wall 10 and the front wall 5. Thesepartitions do not extend upwardly the full height of the outer casingbut terminate in an inverted V cap 15 which thus seals off the space 16between the partitions. These partitions together with the cap 15constitute what I dene as a central air distributor column bearing thereference character 16 and having perforated walls as hereinbeforedescribed.

The areas 17 bounded by the partitions 13 and the end walls 6 of theinner casing form what I definedY as Vertical grain channels upon eachside of the column 16 and these vertical channels are open at the upperends thereof and communicate with the interior of the roof 3 of theouter casing. The areas 18 between the end walls 6 of the inner casing,the end wa1ls7 of the outer casing, and the front walls 8 and 9 of thecasings form a communicating passageway which acts as an air exhaustmanifold and bears the reference character 18.

An air intake duct 19 extends from the exterior of the device inwardlythrough the outer casing to the aforementioned air distributor column 16and is provided with a fan 20 and means to heat the air passingtherethrough (not illustrated). Also associated with the air heatingmeans are suitable control valves of a conventional nature (also notillustrated).

An air exhaust duct 21 having a fan 22 therein communicates with theaforementioned manifold 18 and discharges air therefrom to theatmosphere.

The aforementioned grain intake duct 4 diverges into the two ducts 4 and4 so that grain passing therethrough can be directed into each of thegrain channels 17 and a control ilap 23 enables the operator to controlthe quantity of grain flowing to either channel.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that grain can flow downwardlyinto the channels 17 and that warmed air enters the central column 16 inthe direction of arrows 24 whereupon the air passes through theperforations 14, through the grain contained in the grain channels 17and thence through the perforations 11 into the air exhaust manifold 18whereupon it is exhausted through the duct 21 to the atmosphere carryingwith it moisture picked up from the grain within the channels.

Grain discharge means collectively designated 25 are provided at thebase of each of the grain channels 17, said means including a pair ofrollers 26 mounted for rotation Within the base of the channels, saidrollers being parallel and provided with spiral striations 27 tofacilitate the movement of grain thereby. Means are provided to rotatesaid rollers in the direction of arrows 28 but as said means areconventional they have not been illustrated in the drawings.

A longitudinally extending shroud 29 is situated above each pair ofrollers 26, said shroud being of an inverted V configuration when viewedin section. These shrouds direct the grain passing downwardly within thechannels 17, through the outside portions 30 of the said rollers andensure that the grain exits from the channels adjacent the partitions 13and the end walls 6 into collecting chutes 11 situated therebelow.

Means to control the volume of grain passed by the rollers is providedand takes the form of aps 32 hingedly depending from the lower edges ofthe partition 13 and the end wall 6. Conventional screw threaded rods 33engageable within brackets 34 provide means whereby the position of theiaps from the vertical may be controlled thereby controlling the gapbetween the fiaps and the perimeter of the rollers so that the speed atwhich the grain is discharged can be controlled. In other words thespeed with which the grain passes through my dryer is controlled solelyby these aps 32 in conjunction with the rollers 26.

In operation, grain is fed through the duct i and passe downwardlythrough the vertical grain channels l? at a speed determined by thepercentage moisture therewithin. Hot air is passed through duct 24 andinto the central air distributor column 16 whereupon it passes throughthe grain within the channels l? and is thence exhausted as hereinbeforedescribed.

In conclusion Irwish to stress the ease with which my device iscontrolled to suit all conditions as both the speed of grain passingtherethrough and also the volume and temperature there utilized mayreadily be controlled.

Since various modifications can be made in my invention as hereinabovedescribed, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same madewithin the spirit and scope of the claim without departing from suchspirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in theaccompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only andnot in a limiting sense.

What I claim as my invention is:

A device for removing moisture from grain or the like comprising incombination a substantially rectangular, vertical outer casing, an innercasing spaced from three of the walls of said outer casing the fourthwall of said outer casing being common to both casings, and a pair ofvertical perforate partitions within said inner casing and parallel withthe end walls thereof, said partitions constituting a central airdistributor column being closed at both ends thereof, said partitionsand said end Walls constituting vertical grain channels on each side ofsaid column, said end walls also being perforate, said end walls and theend walls of said outer casing constituting an air discharge manifold,an air intake duct communicating with the interior of said column, andan air exhaust duct communicating with the interior of said manifold,grain intake means situated at the upper end of said outer casing, andgrain discharge means Situated at the base of each of said grainchannels, and means associated with the bases of said channels tocontrol the volume of grain discharging therefrom, said grain intakemeans comprising a substantially vertical duct extending through theupper side of said outer casing and substantially in the centre thereof,the lower end of said duct being of an inverted Y configuration, andbaie means within said duct to control the direction of ow of graintherethrough.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS618,508 Hess Jan. 3l, i899 1,308,942 French July 8, 1919 1,482,812Roberts Feb. 5, 1924 2,552,093 Gollbach et al May 8, 1951 2,660,809Morrison Dec. l, 1953

